When managing a live-fire training event, who is primarily responsible for safety?

In a live-fire training event, the responsibility for safety primarily rests with the safety officer. This individual is specifically tasked with overseeing all safety protocols and ensuring that all participants adhere to them during the operation. The safety officer's role includes identifying potential hazards, monitoring the training environment, and making critical decisions to protect participants from harm.

While the incident commander plays a crucial role in overall scene management and command, and a training specialist may focus on instructional aspects, the safety officer's dedicated focus on maintaining a safe training environment makes them the primary custodian of safety. This role is vital in a live-fire scenario where the risks are notably heightened, necessitating a dedicated officer to ensure compliance with safety measures. Additionally, while all participants share a collective responsibility for maintaining safety, it is the safety officer who bears the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the event as a whole.